Can supplementary private health insurance further supplement health

The Role of Supplementary Insurance in Achieving Universal Health Coverage: A Comprehensive Review

Background

The gradual movement towards universal health coverage (UHC) is an important issue in many countries. The aim of this study is to identify the role of supplementary health insurance in achieving universal coverage.

Methods

This comprehensive review study was conducted to identify the role of supplementary health insurance in achieving universal health coverage. 4894 articles were found in the search in databases (Scopus, PubMed, and Web Science), and finally42 articles were selected. Considering the criteria of titles and abstracts, the reviewed articles were assessed, and a thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the collected data.

Results

The review showed 52 Sub dimensions in 7 dimensions. Policymakers can draw on international experiences to ensure that private health insurance contributes to achieving universal health coverage by Providing clarity within the national health financing policy framework regarding the role of private health insurance. Enhancing understanding of how supplementary health insurance impacts the performance of the healthcare system. They are improving oversight of private health insurance, regulating financial protection and consumer support, and implementing thorough market surveillance and proper allocation of health subsidies between the private and public sectors.

Conclusion

Supplementary insurance holds promise as a complementary tool in achieving universal health coverage. Addressing gaps in primary insurance and providing additional financial protection can contribute to enhanced access, improved quality of care, and reduced financial barriers to healthcare services. However, careful attention must be given to affordability, equity, regulation, and coordination with primary insurance schemes to ensure its effective implementation and prevent unintended consequences.

Does improving basic public health services promote household consumption of rural migrant workers? Evidence from China

Background

Transforming rural migrant workers' consumption potential into a consumption booster requires ensuring their equal rights as urban residents. The adequate access to Basic Public Health Services (BPHS) help effectively tackle rural migrant workers' health challenges and promote the well-being of this vulnerable population. Assessing the welfare effects of BPHS through a consumption perspective offers valuable insights and provides policy implications for enhancing the equity of BPHS and achieving common prosperity.

Methods

Utilizing the household-level data from China Migrants Dynamic Survey 2017 (CMDS 2017), this study comprehensively evaluated the effects of BPHS on rural migrant workers' household consumption by combining the methods of OLS, PSM, and IV.

Results

The enhancement of BPHS promotes rural migrant workers' household consumption even after considering endogeneity problems. Mechanism analysis indicates that BPHS imposes its positive effects on rural migrant workers through improving health literacy and increasing citizenization willingness. Furthermore, we identified heterogeneous effects across individual and household characteristics of rural migrant workers, and their flow patterns.

Conclusion

Our analysis indicates that BPHS plays a greater role in promoting household consumption of socially vulnerable groups, such as trans-provincial migration, rural migrant workers in old generations, and with lower-level income. Overall, these results suggest that the welfare effects of BPHS are inclusive in China.

The effect of urban-rural health insurance integration on consumption of middle-aged and older adult households in rural areas: evidence from China

Introduction

Rural consumption is crucial in promoting economic and social development in China's economic slowdown. Integrating urban-rural residents' health insurance has alleviated the financial burden of medical expenses for rural households and boosted rural household consumption. This study examines the effect of integrating urban-rural residents' health insurance on the consumption patterns of middle-aged and older adult households in rural China. Our research provides a reference basis for improving rural healthcare security and enhancing the sustainable consumption capacity in rural areas.

Methods

We employed a Propensity Score Matching Difference-in-Differences model (PSM-DID) to estimate the association between health insurance integration and household consumption using panel data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2013 to 2018. Furthermore, we employed a mediation model to analyze the influencing mechanisms.

Results

Our findings suggested a positive association between health insurance integration and survival consumption as well as total consumption among rural middle-aged and older adult households. The conclusion remained valid after endogeneity treatment, robustness and placebo tests. Furthermore, we found that the impact of health insurance integration is more pronounced for middle-aged, female, and high-income rural residents' households. Integrating urban-rural residents' health insurance raised consumption by reducing medical expenses and increasing health and life expectancy.

Discussion

Policymakers should deepen the rural medical and health system reform, improve the convenience of medical services for middle-aged and older adult families in rural areas, and improve the medical and life assistance mechanism for vulnerable groups in rural areas. Additionally, the local government should continuously broaden rural household income channels to promote upgrading consumption structure while improving overall consumption levels.